Elizabethton man charged with being unwanted visitor

Published 9:52am Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Police say an unwanted house guest at a city home was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing and public intoxication Sunday evening.
Jeffrey Lethcoe, 52, 353 Reynolds Road, Elizabethton, was arrested after the EPD received complaints from a resident that Lethcoe would not leave his residence.
EPD Officer Kenneth Lowe responded to 600 Trudy St., Apt. D, where he spoke with the tenant concerning Lethcoe.
According to Lowe’s report, the tenant told police that Lethcoe was at his apartment “passed out” in a vehicle in the driveway. Lowe wrote that the man said Lethcoe came to the door of his apartment wanting to talk to him, and that he told Lethcoe to leave “multiple times,” but that Lethcoe forced his way into the apartment.
“Mr. Lethcoe pushed the door open and entered his apartment,” Lowe wrote in the report. “(The tenant) stated Mr. Lethcoe moved and knocked over some items in his residence.”
Lowe spoke to a neighbor, who gave the same statement as the tenant of the apartment.
“(The neighbor) stated Mr. Lethcoe did enter … apartment after he was told to leave,” Lowe wrote.
Lowe said he asked Lethcoe why he entered the apartment and he said he believed the tenant had taken his Suboxone strips out of his vehicle.
Lowe wrote that while investigating he noticed that Lethcoe appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said Lethcoe stated he had taken Suboxone and anxiety medication. Lethcoe was given field sobriety tests, which Lowe said he did not pass.
Lethcoe was charged with criminal trespass and public intoxication. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 20.